Fire escape



1541152141950 `A. H. voRBUscH, sR., ETAL 2,519,519

FIRE ESCAPE Filed May 8,` 1947 7 9 Imventors Mapa /74 Voz-web 6r. dolpia b. Varn/sch Jr.

Patented Aug. 22, 1950 FIRE ESCAPE Adolph H. Vorbusch, Sr., Adolph H. Vorbusch, Jr., and Benjamin R. Vorbusch, New Orleans, La.

Application May 8, 1947, Serial o. 746,700

1 Claim.

The invention relates to lire escapes for buildings, and has for its object to provide a device of this character formed as a part of the walls of the building, and so constructed and arranged, a person may move from any of the windows, horizontally, to a safe position and descend or ascend to various elevations.

A further object is to form the re escape from a plurality of spaced courses, each course being formed from abutting blocks having outwardly extending hand and foot engaging members in alinement for forming a walk-way or hand grips for utilization by one escaping from a burning building.

A further object is to provide drain holes in the blocks whereby water will drain from the courses and away from the building.

A further object is to form the escape blocks from any kind of material, preferably ceramic, and provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending ange having a hand grip at the outer end thereof and a water drain aperture through the flange below the hand grip.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may bemade Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a corner of a building, showing the escape applied.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the corner of the building.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the blocks.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a brick wall, however it is to be understood that any type of masonry wall may be used.

The wall I is provided with the usual window `frames 2, in spaced relation, and conventional sliding sash 3, which sash is operable in the usual manner.

The lire escape comprises a plurality of spaced courses of specially shaped blocks 4 extending entirely around the building, and from the bottom to the top of the walls thereof. Each course 5 is formed from abutting blocks 4, having their body portions 6 embedded in the wall, and each block is provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending flange 1 terminating in hand grip members 8. Extending downwardly and outwardly through the ange 1 is a drain opening 9 through which water will flow and be deected from the wall of the building, thereby preventing saturation of the wall in case of rain or from water discharge onto the building from a hose. The upper and lower sides of the body 6 of each block` is provided with longitudinal ribs i0, so the blocks will be positively anchored in the mortar of the wall.

Extending across the window frames 2 are hand grip bars Il adapted to be gripped by a person escaping through the window. A person escaping, opens the window, grasps the hand bars Il, and steps onto the window sill l2, and then moves laterally onto the various courses 5, utilizes the courses as hand grips as well as supports for the feet.

It will be seen that a trapped person, will be able to escape from window to window horizontally, or can move to a safe position to ascend or descend from course to course on the building wal From the above it will be seen that lire escape means is provided as an integral portion of the building wall by means of which any trapped person who can reach the window and escape therethrough can descend from the building, or reach a window through which to safely pass. It will also be seen the device will add an ornamental appearance to the building.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

A re escape formed as a part of a building wall, said lre escape comprising spaced courses of hand grip blocks, said blocks being in abutting side engagement, each block comprising a body member embedded in the wall, an outwardly and vupwardly extending ange terminating spaced from the wall and forming a hand grip and an outwardly and downwardly extending drain opening carried by the flange below the hand grip, said drain opening being positioned whereby water collected in any of the courses will be drained outwardly and discharged in a plane spaced from the outer face of the wall.

ADOLPH H. VORBUSCH, SR.

ADOLPI-I H. VORBUSCI-I, JR.

BENJAMIN R. VORBUSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Henneking Aug. 29, 1922 

